Lao Tzu: The Action In Inaction

Doing nothing, non-action or not forcefully acting is one of Lao-Tzu’s well-known teachings. We mistakenly think this is akin to being lazy, and doing absolutely nothing. What Lao-Tzu means is that we should not do anything that is not in accordance with Tao. It means swimming with the tide, and not against it.

If a river has to cross a mountain, it goes around it, rather than blowing the mountain in pieces to carve out a path. There are always comfortable and natural ways of doing things that don’t disrupt anything else.